Tobacco Use and Rhode Island Students
What is the problem?
The 2011 Rhode Island Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that among high school students:
For Cigarette Use
35% ever tried cigarette smoking (even one or two puffs).
11% smoked cigarettes on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey.
4% smoked cigarettes on 20 or more days during the 30 days before the survey.
5% smoked cigarettes on school property on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the
survey.
51% did not try to quit smoking cigarettes, among students who currently smoked cigarettes,
during the 12 months before the survey.
For Other Tobacco Use
6% used chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey.
3% used chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip on school property on at least 1 day during the 30 days
before the survey.
13% smoked cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars on at least 1 day during the 30 days before
the survey.
For Any Tobacco Use
18% smoked cigarettes; smoked cigars, cigarillos or little cigars; or used chewing tobacco,
snuff, or dip on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey.
What are the solutions?
Better health education
More family and community involvement
Healthier school environments
What is the status?
The 2010 Rhode Island School Health Profiles indicates that among high schools:
In Health Education
88% required students to take 2 or more health education courses.
64% had a health education curriculum that addresses all 8 national standards for health
education.
44% taught 15 key tobacco-use prevention topics in a required course.
18% had a lead health education teacher who received professional development during the 2
years before the survey on tobacco-use prevention.
In Family and Community Involvement
23% provided families with health information to increase parent and family knowledge of
tobacco-use prevention.
In School Environment
65% prohibited all tobacco use at all times in all locations including cigarettes, smokeless
tobacco, cigars, and pipes; by students, faculty and school staff, and visitors; in school
buildings; outside on school grounds; on school buses or other vehicles used to transport
students; and at off-campus, school-sponsored events; during school hours and non-school hours.
59% sometimes, almost always, or always required students who were caught smoking cigarettes
to participate in an assistance, education, or cessation program.
38% provided tobacco cessation services for students, faculty, and staff at school or through
arrangements with providers not on school property.
81% posted signs marking a tobacco-free school zone.
40% used the School Health Index or a similar self-assessment tool to assess their policies,
activities, and programs in tobacco-use prevention.
Where can I get more information?
Visit www.cdc.gov/yrbss or call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Division of Adolescent and School Health